Danny Hultzen: Who will be #1?

Here is a snapshot of University of Virginia southpaw Danny Hultzen, another name being thrown around as a potential #1 overall pick.

Danny Hultzen

Height/Weight/Age: 6’3″/200/21

Position: Pitcher

School: University of Virginia

Scouting Report:

This crafty southpaw relies more on pinpoint control and pitch movement than power to get batters out. His fastball is usually in the 91-93 MPH range but features late life that can deceive batters. His slider and slurve have been described as above average and feature plenty of movement, though he is still tinkering with his slider. He has pinpoint control that makes up for the lack of velocity. He still has some mechanical issues that may have to be addressed, as he throws across his body at times.

Why the Pirates will draft him

Injury Risk– Since he relies less on power and more on control, this makes Hultzen a slightly less likely candidate to suffer from injury, though that isn’t a guarentee.

Compliments- A crafty left handed pitcher would compliment the power arm of Taillon well in the rotation.

Why the Pirates won’t draft him

The Price is Wrong– Reports out of Hultzen’s camp said that the pitcher would demand a $13 million dollar contract. To put that in perspective, Stephen Strasburg received $15.1 million in contract and bonus money. There is no way a player that profiles as a #2 pitcher at the most will get that kind of money.

Haven’t we tried this before?– Much throughout Dave Littlefield’s tenure, the Pirates spent high draft picks on pitchers that profiled very similarly to Hultzen. We all know how that turned out. While it’s a much higher risk, power arms usually yield better potential for great rewards.

With the draft taking place next week, the months of scouting and preparation will come to an end, with the Pirates adding a highly touted prospect with the first pick. The fact there isn’t a clear front-runner will make this the most intriguing draft the Pirates will have in some time.